Blues People

Negro Music in White America

By: LeRoi Jones

Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi

"The path the slave took to 'citizenship' is what I want to look at. And I make my analogy through the slave citizen's music - through the music that is most closely associated with him: blues and a later, but parallel, development, jazz...[If] the Negro represents, or is symbolic of, something in and about the nature of American culture, this certainly should be revealed by his characteristic music."

So says Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) in the introduction to Blues People, his classic work on the place of jazz and blues in American social, musical, economic, and cultural history. From the music of African slaves in the United States through the music scene of the 1960s, Baraka traces the influence of what he calls "negro music" on white America - not only in the context of music and pop culture but also in terms of the values and perspectives passed on through the music. In tracing the music, he brilliantly illuminates the influence of African Americans on American culture and history.

©1999 LeRoi Jones (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Very good

I liked it alot, that's really all I have to say so I'm just gonna drag this out so I have enough words

Wonderful

This book was very informative. The author , LeRoi Jones performed a very in depth research . A must read (listening) for all music lovers.

Glenn E.Caffey

You can't know where you're going. unless....

Excellent narration. A thought-provoking historical thesis of Black people and their music, the blues, in America.

A journey through the roots of blues and jazz

I hadn't heard of Jones before taking an Art hum music class. I was so moved by his insight in our readings that I decided to seek out his other works and I'm glad I did. Great narration and writing. Simply put, loved it.

Outstanding.

Clear sighted and knowledgeable exploration of the evolutionary history of African American music from Emancipation to the 1960’s.